In order to demonstrate the level of quality of Half Life 2: Deep Down we've decided to release a level I've completed already as a playable map. This level is entitled "Into the mines.." and moves Alyx and Gordon from the above ground section of the mod to the subterranian element of the story.

The map is fully functional, playtested and should be bug free but we're obsessed with feedback (good and bad) here on the Deep Down team so if you have an opinion, please send it through.

We're having a whale of a time building this mod and can't wait to share the rest of it with the community.

We hope you enjoy the demo and that this will give you a glimpse of the fun to come.

thanks for uploading this map, i just downloaded and played it and i liked it very much. as a long term Hl2 mapper myself i ofcourse do play mods and maps a bit different to what a 'normal' player would do. so i have a few small comments, nothing serious. i always check each place that i can get to, so i jumped into the large water (the first one in the map), and noticed that when i tried to get out of it i did get blocked on the ladder. guess it was placed to close to the displacement wall beside it, or some of the brushes above it blocked it. And i couldn't help myself, but i was glad i could get rid of Alyx. don't get me wrong, i like her as game character, but i hate it to have a team member of some sort in a game. i like to do everything myself. so i was glad i was able to leave her behind at the start of the game. in Hl2 this isn't possible because she keeps spawning lateron in each map, but here she stayed behind, (had to trick her by flying away in no clip mode very fast, lol, but it worked). then, i first played the map on foot and then the second time by car. And i am sorry to say but the last part of the map looks really rushes, compared with the lovely outdoor start of the map. I did get the feeling of whole runnel parts where just copied a few times, a lot looked exactly the same each time, with each turn the tunnel made. It really feels you wanted to finish the map and just didn't put that much time anymore in to it.

but, i keep tracking your project and wish you success and hopefully we will be able to play much more later on.

Thanks so much for your feedback... I'm loving your work on your mod so it's really useful to hear from another mapper.
I've had tonnes of feedback on the map so there's lots of things I can tweak and change and add before the whole mod is released.

I may go back and work more on the underground sections but you're correct in the fact that these are purely repeating template sections. This allows me to re-arrange the whole map section if I need to. For example, Darren Weekes pointed out that the jump at the end seems silly because there is so little driving to be done after you complete it. So I will break that section out and whack in some more driving sections before you reach the waterfall. It's a fast way of building. I may add more detail to the areas where I feel the player is expected to get out and walk around.

Also, the tunnels are meant to be driven through. I need to add some kind of gate to ensure the player has the car with them when they enter the tunnels and don't just go in on foot. I'm working on that now...(possibly electrified floor?).
As the player is supposed to be driving through these tunnels at speed I've kept the detail purposefully low.

With regard to Alyx, this is intended to be a Half Life 2 episode, so she's very much part of the game. There will of course be sections where you leave her behind (as demonstrated) but for the most part she'll be with you all the way. In fact there will be sections where she's essential for your survival and you're ability to progress. How mean of you to leave her behind! :)

and you are fully right, Alyx is indeed a big part of Hl2 ep2 and ep1 i believe, that i probebly why i like HL2 itself much better, because there she only is a small part of the gameplay. but, this is just personal, probebly do like most people Alyx on there side.
and i understand that the tunnel is meant to drive through, and then is less detail indeed ok. and there is nothing wrong with working like that, using parts as template sections. i do this too in some rare cases. still, you can easily make them look still different by adding in one or two places something really specific, that can't be missed. this way the tunnels still will look differently.

am interested to see where this will go, so i am tracking.
much success and keep up mapping!

I tried out your map you put up for download and i must say its quite fun!
But also joy breaking, because of the constant stops,Maybe make it longer ? Though its beautifully done in my opinion, looks just like Episode 2.